Avocado tree named ‘Nico’

ABSTRACT

The ‘Nico’ avocado is of medium size, average 16-22 ounces and being about 5.3 inches in length, and has overall good eating qualities. The fruit matures and can be picked in March to early April. The fruit is an ovate berry that has a soft shelled, smooth textured, exocarp that is dark green.

Scientific name: Persea americana mille var. ‘Nico’.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tree is in a 40 acre avocado grove located in Miami-Dade County,Fla. The tree is estimated to be between 20 to 25 years old. The fruitdiffers from other avocados because it ripens later than others. Itsorigin is unknown. Its fruit can be stored at temperatures above 50°Fahrenheit.

Parentage is unknown as the tree was discovered, and is of a wildnature. The tree has been observed for four years, and has been inproduction for 15 years. A comparison of the microsatellite pattern fromthis avocado against 13 known varieties (‘Lula’ (not patented),‘Simmonds’ (not patented), ‘Monroe’ (U.S. Pat. No. 261), ‘Choquette’(not patented), ‘Semil-34’ (not patented), ‘Semil-43’ (not patented),‘Melendez’ (not patented), ‘Hall’ (not patented), ‘Booth’ (notpatented), ‘Hardee’ (not patented), ‘April’ (not patented), ‘Carla’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,594), and ‘Pollock’ (not patented)) revealed nomatches.

Asexual propagation was attained in 2009 in Miami-Dade County, Fla. whenthe plant was 20 years old. Asexual reproduction was achieved bygrafting cuttings of the tree onto new avocado seedlings. The treediffers from other late varieties on the lateness of the maturity of thefruit. ‘Nico’ presents resistance to Pseudocercospora purpureapathogens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the trunk at a lower portion of the ‘Nico’ avocado tree.

FIG. 2 shows the midlevel portion of the ‘Nico’ avocado tree.

FIG. 3 shows the upper portion of the ‘Nico’ avocado tree.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the leaf of the ‘Nico’ avocado tree nearthe base.

FIG. 5 shows the scale in inches of a typical fruit of the ‘Nico’avocado tree measured against a ruler.

FIG. 6 shows the color and internal configuration of the fruit and theseed of the ‘Nico’ avocado tree.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Botanical descriptions used herein are described using Exotica PictorialCyclopedia of Exotic Plants, A. B. Graf, page 1834, “Botanical TermsIllustrated.” Where possible, color is described using the HEX valuedesignation obtained from the web site, www.cloford.com.

The tree presents a vigorous upright growth with a spread of 15′ and 25′high (before pruning). As shown in FIG. 1, at a height of 2′, the maintrunk has a diameter of 11.5″ and a circumference of 36″, tapering as itextends straight and upward to the pinnacle of the tree. The main trunksplits into 4 branches of which two are main scaffold limbs of about5.1″ and 6.8″ in diameter, with smaller limbs each being about 3.5″ indiameter, with the vertical sub trunk splitting into smaller branches asit extends upward. Limbs range from 3-10 feet from the main axis of thetree.

The trunk is corky and rough, and the bark of the trunk is anindeterminate brown to greenish brown in color owing to a repeatedcopper hydroxide spray regimen. Lenticels are prominent on limbs ofgreen wood but are obscured as bark ages and becomes corkier.

The leaves are ovate and have a smooth upper surface marked by a lightervenation that is very slightly raised, with the upper smooth surfacebecoming a leathery texture as they mature, as appears in FIGS. 1, 2, 3,and 4. The leaf tip is acuminate. The margin is entire and undulate. Theupper leaf color is “olivedrab 3” (yellow green), HEX value #9ACD32 andthe underside of the leaves are a shade lighter in color, “dark olivegreen 2”, HEX value #BCEE68. Veins are prominently raised and the numberof veins from mid-rib average 10. The length of leaf blades varies from4.5″ to 7″ (11.43 cm to 17.8 cm), with the average length being 5.9″ (15cm). The width of leaf blades varies from 2.4″ to 3.4″ (6 cm to 7.2 cm),with the average width being 2.8″ (7.1 cm). The foliage is of heavydensity near the ground, becoming sparse toward the upper regions of thetree. Typical observed petiole diameter is 3.4-3.8 mm and petiolelengths range from 1-1.4″ (2.5-3.6 cm), with an average length being1.1″ (2.8 cm). Internodes are between ⅜″-½″ (0.95 cm to 1.27 cm), andthe angle of the leaf at the point of attachment ranges from 60° to 80°.

Buds are yellow-green, have an average length of 8-9 mm, average widthof 3.5 mm, and an oblong shape with a rounded base and acute tip.Pedicels are green-yellow in color and average 5-6 mm in length and 1.2mm in width with an average diameter of 1 mm. Peduncles range from 41 mmto 151 mm and average about 85 mm and are yellow green in color. Typicalobserved flower depth is 7.5-8 mm.

The flowers of this plant have 3 lobes that are approximately 6.5 mm inlength and 2 mm in width. Flowers typically have three sepals of about 6mm in length and 3 mm in width. Margins are smooth and uniform, smoothin texture, and have densely silk tomentose on both surfaces. The shapeis apex acute with a flattened base.

The fruit shape is ovate, averaging 4″ in diameter, has a texture thatis buttery, has no discernable neck, and may be distinguished over thefruit of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/998,168 in that the fruit isdiscernably more spherical, having a major axis of approximately 5″ anda diameter of 4″ whereas the fruit of co-pending application Ser. No.13/998,168 is more oblong, having a major axis of nearly 6″ and adiameter of approximately 4″. Another visible discernable difference isthat the surface of the fruit has a medium gloss whereas the skin of thefruit of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/998,168 has a high gloss.Fruit of the ‘Nico’ tree may be harvested in March or early April,whereas the fruit of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/998,168 is readyfor harvesting in late February or March.

The seed is round, weighing about 6.9 oz, depending on overall fruitsize, having a diameter between 2.5 and 3″, and fitting in a tightcavity. The plant produces fruit at a medium-high volume, averagingabout 275-300 lbs per year.

The tree's winter hardness is 9B. Avocado shelf life is several weeks,and the fruit can be stored above 50°. The fruit naturally ripens onceplaced at room temperature or about 5-8 days after harvesting.

The flowers are not fragrant, and an anise aroma is not present. Thetree blooms in March and the blooms are of the B type. Fruit matures andcan be picked in March or early April of the following year. The fruitweights are between 16 and 22 ounces with the diameter averaging 4inches. The fruit is full in flavor and peels easily. The seed is tightin the cavity and is 3 inches long and dark brown in color.

FIG. 5 shows the outside of the fruit, which is an ovate berry thatmatures in March. It has a thin ( 1/32″) soft shelled exocarp, which issmooth textured, and dark green. The fruit weighs 12-16 ounces andaverages 5.3″ in length, as shown in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 6, the interior of the fruit is seen to have a mesocarp colorthat is green near the shell and yellow near the seed cavity.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of avocado treesubstantially as described and illustrated and characterized as tonovelty by its overall good eating qualities, its medium size and itsbeing ready to be picked in March to early April.